day thirteen: exercise and goats

From Bill:

1. Do you have a specific exercise routine?

Not really. I try to do a Pilates series first thing in the morning to wake up my muscles and to keep my back from being a bunch of knots. I skip that sometimes, and when I do, I can tell. I guess that’s exercise, though I think of it more as self-preservation. I have a horribly bad back, and it’s been that way since I was a teenager, and when it goes out, it leaves me out of commission for at least a week, so I do my best to keep it happy and relaxed. Every time it hurts a little — and everybody’s back hurts a little sometimes — I am terrified that it’s going to go all the way and leave me in crippling agony. I like to avoid crippling agony if I can.

Other than that, I try to walk a lot.

2. Have you ever seen a quacking goat?

Not to be one of those people who not only answers a question with another question but also uses the word “question” way too much in a single sentence, but shouldn’t the question be if I’ve ever heard a quacking goat? Either way, maybe I have, maybe I haven’t. It’s a hell of a thing, Bill.

There’s this farm I drive past regularly and they have goats. It just kills me when I see them scampering about, and boy, do they scamper. It’s the cutest thing, I swear. I always have the same reaction. I say, “GOATS!” and then I calm down a little and say “Why does that amuse me so much?” And yes, I say that right out loud, regardless of whether there’s anyone with me or not. It really does amuse me, too, and I have absolutely no idea why. I bet if one of them quacked, it would amuse me even more.